Five sporting apologies: Wayne Rooney isn't the only player who has had to say sorry

Wayne Rooney finally said sorry to the Manchester United fans who he had upset
with his public contract dispute with the club. He isn't the first, and
won't be the last, sportsman who has had to issue an apology for one reason
or another.

Hand on heart: Tigers Woods vows to be a better person to friends, family and, of course, sponsors, in the futurePhoto: GETTY IMAGES

In front of a room full of hand picked guests, Woods' choreographed, pre-prepared statement of contrition over his various infidelities took in themes of spirituality, Buddhism, family and pretty much anything that he thought would help heal the rift between the world's finest golfer and his fans. Over the course of 14 toe-curlingly embarrassing minutes Woods admitted to his own shortcomings and promised to walk a good path in future.

“I thought I could get away with whatever I wanted to. I felt that I had worked hard my entire life and deserved to enjoy all the temptations around me," he said. "I felt I was entitled. Thanks to money and fame, I didn’t have to go far to find them. I was wrong. I was foolish. I don’t get to play by different rules.” You almost wanted to believe him.

Michael Phelps

The multiple Olympic gold medallist was forced to plead forgiveness after he was photographed inhaling from a marijuana pipe at a student party in early 2009. “I engaged in behaviour which was regrettable and demonstrated bad judgment,” Phelps said. “I’m 23 years old and despite the successes I’ve had in the pool, I acted in a youthful and inappropriate way, not in a manner people have come to expect from me. For this, I am sorry. I promise my fans and the public it will not happen again.”

Wade was forced to apologise after making reference to the attacks on the World Trade centre when answering questions on Miami Heat's forthcoming season. "There's going to be times when we might lose one, two games in a row, maybe two games, three games in a row, you never know," he said. "You all are going to make it seem like the World Trade has just went down again."

If he was trying to make a point about overreactions in the sporting press to on court 'tragedies' that are nothing of the sort, he illustrated it perfectly. An angry response to his turn of phrase prompted a witch hunt, forcing him issue a grovelling apology the following day.

Monaghan's misdemeanour was to have a picture of him simulating a sex act with a dog flashed around cyberspace, bringing shame not just on his own head but that of the club. The incident occurred at the end of an alcohol fuelled end of season party, something he offered as no excuse.

"I'll have to handle the jokes and taunts which is understandable," he rightly observed, "but the players shouldn't have to put up with pressure that my ongoing presence will bring."

"I could not tell you how sorry I am for the embarrassment," Hamilton said. "I sincerely apologise to the race stewards for wasting their time and making them look silly. When I went into the meeting, I had no intention to lie. I just wanted to tell my story and see what happened. I was misled and that's just how it went.

"I want to say sorry to all my fans. I am not a liar or a dishonest person, I am a team player. If the team ask me to do something, I generally do it. But I felt awkward and uncomfortable. This is not an easy thing to do, to step back and realise I was in the wrong. But I was in the wrong, I was misled.

"For me, the situation is definitely the worst thing I've experienced in my life. That is why I am here. It is right for me as a human being and as a man to stand in front of you all and tell you exactly what went on and put up my hands. I cannot tell you how sorry I am."